Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Saturday, June 27, 2009

Were our Forebears Aware of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and its Effects? A Review of the History of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Can J Clin Pharmacol Vol 16 (2) Summer 2009:e288-e295;

Many historical records have been taken out of context when reviewing the history of prenatal alcohol exposure, and the impacts of these histories on modern-day FASD research have been overestimated. Historical records, as early as biblical times, do suggest at least a working awareness of an interaction between alcohol and reproduction of some kind. Contrary to assertions made in some fetal alcohol research, these records do not suggest an ancient awareness of the deleterious effects of alcohol on the developing fetus. Historical records regarding alcoholism and reproduction need to be interpreted critically, in context, and in consideration of the Zeitgeist, or the Spirit of the Times.

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NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES FROM A COMPREHENSIVE MAGNETIC RESONANCE STUDY OF CHILDREN WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Can J Clin Pharmacol Vol 16 (1) Winter 2009:e178-e201

Although ND/AE, SE/AE, and FAS/PFAS are distinct FASD subgroups, these groups are not distinguishable solely by their neuropsychological profiles. While all children within a group shared the same magnitude of neuropsychological impairment, the patterns of impairment showed considerable individual variability. MRI, MRS and fMRI further distinguished these FASD subgroups


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Characterization of a gene encoding alcohol dehydrogenase in benznidazole-susceptible and -resistant populations of Trypanosoma cruzi
Acta Tropica Volume 111, Issue 1, July 2009, Pages 56-63

Alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) are a class of oxidoreductases that catalyse the reversible oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde. In the human parasite Trypanosoma cruzi the TcADH gene was identified through microarray analysis as having reduced transcription in an in vitro induced benznidazole (BZ)-resistant population. In the present study, we have extended these results by characterizing the TcADH gene from 11 strains of T. cruzi that were either susceptible or naturally resistant to benznidazole and nifurtimox or had in vivo selected or in vitro induced resistance to BZ.

The data presented here show that the TcADH enzyme has a decreased level of expression in the in vitro induced BZ-resistant T. cruzi population, a situation that has not been observed in the in vivo selected BZ-resistant and naturally resistant strains.


Request Reprint E-Mail: silvane@cpqrr.fiocruz.br
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Frontal brain dysfunction in alcoholism with and without antisocial personality disorder
Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2009; 5: 309–326.


Multiple regression analyses showed that alcoholism, specific drinking variables (amount and duration of heavy drinking), and ASPD were significant predictors of frontal system and affective abnormalities. These effects were different for men and women. The findings suggested that the combination of alcoholism and ASPD leads to greater deficits than the sum of each.


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Friday, June 26, 2009

CHRONIC ETHANOL ATTENUATES CIRCADIAN PHOTIC PHASE-RESETTING AND ALTERS NOCTURNAL ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN THE HAMSTER
Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol (June 24, 2009

Acute ethanol (EtOH) administration impairs circadian clock phase-resetting, suggesting a mode for the disruptive effect of alcohol abuse on human circadian rhythms.

Here, we extend this research by characterizing the chronobiological effects of chronic alcohol consumption. First, daily profiles of EtOH were measured in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and subcutaneously using microdialysis in hamsters drinking EtOH. In both cases, EtOH peaked near lights-off and declined throughout the dark-phase to low day-time levels. Drinking bouts preceded EtOH peaks by ~20 min. Second, hamsters chronically drinking EtOH received a light pulse during the late dark-phase (Zeitgeber time [ZT] 18.5) to induce photic phase-advances. Water controls had shifts of 1.2±0.2 h, while those drinking 10% and 20% EtOH had much reduced shifts (0.5±0.1 h and 0.3±0.1 h, respectively;

Activity onset was unaffected by 20% EtOH at all light intensities. Conversely, the 24 h pattern of activity bouts was disrupted by EtOH under all light intensities. Finally, replacement of chronic EtOH with water was used to examine withdrawal effects. Water controls had photic phase-advances of 1.1±0.3 h, while hamsters deprived of EtOH for 2-3 days showed enhanced shifts (2.1±0.3 h;

Thus, in chronically-drinking hamsters, brain EtOH levels are sufficient to inhibit photic phase-resetting and disrupt circadian activity. Chronic EtOH did not impair photic entrainment, however its replacement with water potentiated photic phase-resetting.


Request Reprint E-Mail: JGLASS@KENT.EDU


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Alcohol Exposure Alters NMDAR Function in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis
Neuropsychopharmacology advance online publication 24 June 2009;

Chronic alcohol exposure can cause dramatic behavioral alterations, including increased anxiety-like behavior and depression. These alterations are proposed to be due in part to adaptations in the brain regions that regulate emotional behavior, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a principal output nucleus of the amygdala. However, to date there have been no studies that have examined the impact of in vivo alcohol exposure on synaptic function in the BNST.

To better understand how alcohol can alter neuronal function, we examined the ability of in vivo alcohol exposure to alter glutamatergic transmission in the BNST using whole-cell voltage clamp recordings and biochemistry in brain slices obtained from C57Bl6 mice.

Chronic intermittent, but not continuous, ethanol vapor exposure increased temporal summation of NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs). Both electrophysiological and biochemical approaches suggest that this difference is not because of an alteration in glutamate release, but rather an increase in the levels of NR2B-containing NMDARs. Further, we found that ethanol modulation of NMDAR in the vBNST is altered after intermittent alcohol exposure.

Our results support the hypothesis that NMDAR-mediated synaptic transmission is sensitized at key synapses in the extended amygdala and thus may be a suitable target for manipulation of the behavioral deficits associated with acute withdrawal from chronic alcohol exposure.




Request Reprint E-Mail: Danny.winder@vanderbilt.edu

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Susceptibility Locus in Neurokinin-1 Receptor Gene Associated with Alcohol Dependence.
Neuropsychopharmacology advance online publication 24 June 2009;

Substance P (SP), a neurotransmitter in stress pathways, exerts its effects mainly through the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R). Genetic and pharmacological studies show that binding of ligands to NK1R decreases anxiety-related behaviors, and therefore, self-administration of alcohol in mice and craving for alcohol in humans.

As genetic variants may result in differential expression of the receptor through various molecular mechanisms, we examined whether allelic variations in the NK1R gene are associated with alcohol dependence (AD) by genotyping 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across NK1R in alcoholic (n=271) and healthy control (n=337) participants of Caucasian descent. The AD was diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition. Associations of the SNPs with AD were assessed at both the individual SNP and haplotype levels.

We found that genotype and allele frequencies of rs6715729, a synonymous SNP in exon 1, differed significantly in alcoholics and in controls (p=0.0006; OR (odds ratio)=6.13; 95% CI=4.06, 9.23). Haplotype analyses indicated two risk haplotypes for AD in the 5' end of the gene, formed by the three-SNP combinations rs6715729–rs735668–rs6741029.

Taken together, we conclude that polymorphisms of NK1R are significantly associated with the development of AD in Caucasian individuals. Additional studies are needed to replicate these results in other samples and to elucidate the mechanism(s) by which these polymorphisms affect NK1R function in the brain.




Request Reprint E-Mail: Ming_Li@virginia.edu


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Alcohol inhibition of neurogenesis: A mechanism of hippocampalneurodegeneration in an adolescent alcohol abuse model
Hippocampus Published Online: 24 Jun 2009


Adolescents diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder show neurodegeneration in the hippocampus, a region important for learning, memory, and mood regulation. This study examines a potential mechanism by which excessive alcohol intake, characteristic of an alcohol use disorder, produces neurodegeneration.

As hippocampal neural stem cells underlie ongoing neurogenesis, a phenomenon that contributes to hippocampal structure and function, we investigated aspects of cell death and cell birth in an adolescent rat model of an alcohol use disorder. Immunohistochemistry of various markers along with Bromo-deoxy-Uridine (BrdU) injections were used to examine different aspects of neurogenesis. After 4 days of binge alcohol exposure, neurogenesis was decreased by 33 and 28% at 0 and 2 days after the last dose according to doublecortin expression. To determine whether this decrease in neurogenesis was due to effects on neural stem cell proliferation, quantification of BrdU-labeled cells revealed a 21% decrease in the dentate gyrus of alcohol-exposed brains. Cell survival and phenotype of BrdU-labeled cells were assessed 28 days after alcohol exposure and revealed a significant, 50% decrease in the number of surviving cells in the alcohol-exposed group. Reduced survival was supported by significant increases in the number of pyknotic-, FluoroJade B positive-, and TUNEL-positive cells. However, so few cells were TUNEL-positive that cell death is likely necrotic in this model. Although alcohol decreased the number of newborn cells, it did not affect the percentage of cells that matured into neurons (differentiation).

Thus, our data support that in a model of an adolescent alcohol use disorder, neurogenesis is impaired by two mechanisms: alcohol-inhibition of neural stem cell proliferation and alcohol effects on new cell survival. Remarkably, alcohol inhibition of neurogenesis may outweigh the few dying cells per section, which implies that alcohol inhibition of neurogenesis contributes to hippocampal neurodegeneration in alcohol use disorders.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: kim-nixon@uky.edu
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Binge Drinking and Mortality From All Causes and Cerebrovascular Diseases in Korean Men and Women. A Kangwha Cohort Study
Stroke. 2009 Published online before print June 25, 2009,


The results of this study suggest that frequent binge drinking has a harmful effect on hemorrhagic stroke in Korean men. These findings need to be confirmed in further studies.




Request Reprint E-Mail: ohrr@yuhs.ac

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Global burden of disease and injury and economic cost attributable to alcohol use and alcohol-use disorders
The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9682, Pages 2223 - 2233, 27 June 2009

Alcohol consumption has been identified as an important risk factor for chronic disease and injury. In the first paper in this Series, we quantify the burden of mortality and disease attributable to alcohol, both globally and for ten large countries. We assess alcohol exposure and prevalence of alcohol-use disorders on the basis of reviews of published work. After identification of other major disease categories causally linked to alcohol, we estimate attributable fractions by sex, age, and WHO region. Additionally, we compare social costs of alcohol in selected countries. The net effect of alcohol consumption on health is detrimental, with an estimated 3·8% of all global deaths and 4·6% of global disability-adjusted life-years attributable to alcohol. Disease burden is closely related to average volume of alcohol consumption, and, for every unit of exposure, is strongest in poor people and in those who are marginalised from society. The costs associated with alcohol amount to more than 1% of the gross national product in high-income and middle-income countries, with the costs of social harm constituting a major proportion in addition to health costs. Overall, we conclude that alcohol consumption is one of the major avoidable risk factors, and actions to reduce burden and costs associated with alcohol should be urgently increased.




Request Reprint E-Mail: jtrehm@aol.com __________________________________________________________
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Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of policies and programmes to reduce the harm caused by alcohol
The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9682, Pages 2234 - 2246, 27 June 2009

This paper reviews the evidence for the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of policies and programmes to reduce the harm caused by alcohol, in the areas of education and information, the health sector, community action, driving while under the influence of alcohol (drink-driving), availability, marketing, pricing, harm reduction, and illegally and informally produced alcohol. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses show that policies regulating the environment in which alcohol is marketed (particularly its price and availability) are effective in reducing alcohol-related harm. Enforced legislative measures to reduce drink-driving and individually directed interventions to already at-risk drinkers are also effective. However, school-based education does not reduce alcohol-related harm, although public information and education-type programmes have a role in providing information and in increasing attention and acceptance of alcohol on political and public agendas. Making alcohol more expensive and less available, and banning alcohol advertising, are highly cost-effective strategies to reduce harm. In settings with high amounts of unrecorded production and consumption, increasing the proportion of alcohol that is taxed could be a more effective pricing policy than a simple increase in tax.




Request Reprint E-Mail: peteranderson.mail@gmail.com

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Reducing harm from alcohol: call to action
The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9682, Pages 2247 - 2257, 27 June 2009


Despite clear evidence of the major contribution alcohol makes to the global burden of disease and to substantial economic costs, focus on alcohol control is inadequate internationally and in most countries. Expansion of industrial production and marketing of alcohol is driving alcohol use to rise, both in emerging markets and in young people in mature alcohol markets. Cost-effective and affordable interventions to restrict harm exist, and are in urgent need of scaling up. Most countries do not have adequate policies in place. Factors impeding progress include a failure of political will, unhelpful participation of the alcohol industry in the policy process, and increasing difficulty in free-trade environments to respond adequately at a national level. An effective national and international response will need not only governments, but also non-governmental organisations to support and hold government agencies to account. International health policy, in the form of a Framework Convention on Alcohol Control, is needed to counterbalance the global conditions promoting alcohol-related harm and to support and encourage national action.




Rerquest Reprint E-Mail: s.casswell@massey.ac.nz

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Editorial - Alcohol and harm reduction in Russia
The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9682, Page 2171, 27 June 2009

The Series on alcohol and global health, published in The Lancet today, draws attention to one of the most pressing public health problems in the world. Alcohol promotes inequities and accounts for substantial harm to individuals, families, and communities, most of which could be prevented or reduced. The three Series papers address the burden of alcohol, strategies for harm reduction, and future actions. By way of an example, an Article analyses the influence of alcohol on cause-specific mortality in Russia.


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Sally Casswell: champion for communities tackling alcohol
The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9682, Page 2191, 27 June 2009

Every conference held by Sally Casswell, director of the Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation (SHORE) at Massey University, New Zealand, starts and ends with a Maori blessing, says Derek Rutherford, chair of the UK's Global Alcohol Policy Alliance. “This is not lip service”, says Rutherford. Casswell, he says, has a sensitivity and appreciation of the cultural heritage of the Maori people and deep concern for the health and social wellbeing of Pacific Islanders.

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Kelly Morris interviews Series author Professor Sally Casswell. (mp3, 10:13 mins, 9.36Mb)

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Alcohol and cause-specific mortality in Russia: a retrospective case—control study of 48 557 adult deaths
The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9682, Pages 2201 - 2214, 27 June 2009


Alcohol-attributable mortality varies by year; in several recent years, alcohol was a cause of more than half of all Russian deaths at ages 15—54 years. Alcohol accounts for most of the large fluctuations in Russian mortality, and alcohol and tobacco account for the large difference in adult mortality between Russia and western Europe.




Request Reprint E-Mail: dgzaridze@crc.umos.ru

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Ensuring U.S. Health Reform Includes Prevention and Treatment of Mental and Substance Use Disorders

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reached out to hundreds of stakeholder and consumer groups and dozens of Nationally and internationally recognized experts in the fields of mental health and addictions to solicit insight and recommendations on the most critical issues related to mental and substance use disorders facing the American population today, with an emphasis on identifying opportunities to ensure that imminent health reform efforts include prevention and treatment for these disorders. Their thoughtful input was used as the basis to develop the set of nine Core Consensus Principles that underpin this document.
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A Quick Drinking Screen for identifying women at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy
Addictive Behaviors Volume 34, Issue 9, September 2009, Pages 714-716


Two previous studies comparing the Quick Drinking Screen (QDS) with the Timeline Followback (TLFB) found that these two instruments yielded similar reports of alcohol use for clinical and nonclinical populations of problem drinkers. The current study evaluated the correspondence between these two drinking measures with women at risk of an Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancy (AEP).

Results of this study, analyzed in 2008, paralleled previous studies showing that the QDS and the TLFB, two very different drinking measures, collected similar aggregate drinking data for women who drink heavily and are at risk of an AEP. Correspondence between the two drinking measures met acceptable levels of reliability.

The present study found that the QDS has demonstrated efficacy for screening women whose level of alcohol use puts them at risk for an AEP. Although the QDS does not yield detailed drinking information, it could be used when it is not possible or necessary to gather daily drinking data.


Request Reprint E-Mail: sobelll@nova.edu

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Thursday, June 25, 2009

DRD1 5'UTR variation, sex and early infant stress influence ethanol consumption in rhesus macaques
Genes, Brain and Behavior Published Online: 21 May 2009

The mesolimbic dopamine system plays an important role in mediating a variety of behaviors and is involved in mediating the reinforcing effects of ethanol. Genes encoding dopamine receptor subtypes are thus good candidate loci for understanding the genetic etiologies of susceptibility to alcohol dependence and its antecedent behavioral phenotypes. We tested whether variation in DRD1 influences alcohol consumption in rhesus macaques and whether its influence is mediated by sex and early rearing experience.

Maternally deprived males heterozygous for the T allele consumed significantly more ethanol than the other subgroups. Maternal deprivation can produce individuals that are anxious and impulsive, both of which are known risk factors for alcohol dependence.

Our work demonstrates a potential role for the dopamine D1 receptor gene in modulating alcohol consumption, especially in the context of early environmental stress.


Request Reprint E-Mail: tknewman@mac.com

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Anatomy of health effects of Mediterranean diet: Greek EPIC prospective cohort study
BMJ 2009;338:b2337

The dominant components of the Mediterranean diet score as a predictor of lower mortality are moderate consumption of ethanol, low consumption of meat and meat products, and high consumption of vegetables, fruits and nuts, olive oil, and legumes. Minimal contributions were found for cereals and dairy products, possibly because they are heterogeneous categories of foods with differential health effects, and for fish and seafood, the intake of which is low in this population.

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Effect of Systemic Alcohol and Nicotine on Airway Protective Reflexes
Am J Gastroenterol advance online publication 23 June 2009

Acute systemic alcohol exposure inhibits the elicitation pharyngo-UES contractile reflex and reflexive pharyngeal swallow. Unlike cigarette smoking, systemic nicotine does not alter the elicitation of these reflexes.
Request Reprint E-Mail: rshaker@mcw.edu
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Alcohol Intake, Alcohol Dehydrogenase Genotypes, and Liver Damage and Disease in the Danish General Population
Am J Gastroenterol advance online publication 23 June 2009
ADH1B and ADH1C genotypes were not associated with and did not modify the effect of alcohol on biochemical tests or risk of liver disease.
Increasing alcohol intake from none to low (1–6 drinks per week) through to moderate (7–20 drinks per week) and excessive intake (21 drinks per week) leads to stepwise increases in signs of liver damage with no threshold effect, and to an increased risk of liver disease. The minor changes in biochemical tests for low alcohol intake may not account for subclinical liver disease.
Request Reprint E-Mail: brno@heh.regionh.dk
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Light and Moderate Alcohol Consumption Significantly Reduces the Prevalence of Fatty Liver in the Japanese Male Population
Am J Gastroenterol advance online publication 23 June 2009

The prevalence of fatty liver was significantly and independently decreased by light and moderate alcohol consumption in men of an asymptomatic Japanese population.


Request Reprint E-Mail: nmatuha-tky@umin.ac.jp

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Coping with alcohol and drug problems in your family



This 5-Step self-help programme is designed by the Alcohol, Drugs and Family (ADF) research group. The programme supports family / network members who are concerned about their relative's alcohol or drug misuse.

If you are a family or 'network' member (for example: a good friend, a house-sharer, maybe a concerned employer) of someone who is using alcohol or drugs problematically then this self-help programme may be of help to you.

It has been found effective in different formats; both in face-to-case delivery by General Practitioners, nurses, health educators and counsellors, as well as in a self-help manual. This support is now being made accessible on the web. . . . . .

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Short-Term Alcohol Administration Alters KiSS-1 Gene Expression in the Reproductive Hypothalamus of Prepubertal Female Rats
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research Published Online: 10 Jun 2009

Alcohol causes suppressed KiSS-1 gene expression in the reproductive hypothalamus; hence, contributing to this drug's ability to cause suppressed LHRH secretion and disruption of the pubertal process. We suggest that this action, at least in part, is through altered IGF-1 signaling.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: ldees@cvm.tamu.edu
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The Proapoptotic BH3-Only, Bcl-2 Family Member, Puma Is Critical for Acute Ethanol-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis.
Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology. POST EDITOR CORRECTIONS, 16 June 2009

Although Puma expression has been reported to be regulated by p53, p53-deficient mice exhibited a similar extent of ethanol-induced caspase-3 activation and neuronal apoptosis as wild-type mice. Mice deficient in other proapoptotic BH3-only proteins, including Noxa, Bim, or Hrk, showed no significant protection from ethanol-induced neuronal apoptosis.

Collectively, these studies indicate a p53-independent, Bax- and Puma-dependent mechanism of neuronal apoptosis and identify Puma as a possible molecular target for inhibiting the effects of intrauterine ethanol exposure in humans.


Request Reprint E-Mail: karoth@uab.edu

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A safety and tolerability laboratory study of the combination of aripiprazole and topiramate in volunteers who drink alcohol
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental Published Online: 23 Jun 2009

There was no evidence that adverse effects of aripiprazole and topiramate are additive and can, therefore, be administered safely together with a modest amount of alcohol. There was also a trend for a reduction of alcohol use by participants. This finding has implications for further investigation of this combination of drugs for alcohol dependence.


Request Reprint E-Mail: George_Kenna@Brown.edu

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in comorbidity of depression and alcohol dependence.
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental Published Online: 22 Jun 2009


Alcohol dependence is often comorbid with depression. The purpose of the present study was to compare serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels between depressive patients with and without alcohol dependence.

These results suggest that the serum BDNF level is a useful biological marker for depression in patients with alcohol dependence


Request Reprint E-Mail: yoshi621@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp

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Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) - National Report 2008

This publication reports on the results of the 2008 Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS). This is the most recent of a series of school surveys used to monitor and measure smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in Scotland. The survey was carried out in Autumn 2008 and was completed by over 10,000 pupils aged 13 years old and 15 years old across Scotland.


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Addiction neurobiology: ethical and social implications


This report reviews developments in the neuroscience of addiction, explores how they might affect the way we view and treat drug problems, and considers the issues that they raise for drug policy in Europe. In language that is easily accessible, the report presents the complex brain processes involved in addition and the ethical implications inherent to current addiction research.






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Local salsolinol modulates dopamine extracellular levels from rat nucleus accumbens: Shell/core differences
Neurochemistry InternationalVolume 55, Issue 4, September 2009, Pages 187-192

Salsolinol (SAL), a condensation product of dopamine and acetaldehyde that appears in the rat and human brain after ethanol ingestion, has been largely implicated in the aetiology of alcoholism. Although the behavioural consequences of systemic or intracerebral SAL administrations have been described, the neurochemical effects of pharmacologically relevant doses of SAL and other tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQs) in the brain areas involved in alcohol addiction are practically unknown.

To gain an insight into this topic, male Wistar rats were stereotaxically implanted with one concentric microdialysis probe in either the shell or the core of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Treatments involved local administration of 0.1, 5 and 25 μM SAL for 20 min through the dialysis probe. Dopamine (DA) concentrations in the shell or core of the NAc were on-line analyzed every 20 min by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Implantation of the probe was histologically evaluated at the end of the experiments.

Our results indicate that dialysis application of 5 and 25 μM SAL into the core increased the dialysate levels of DA. Conversely, the administration of the same doses of this drug into the shell significantly reduced the DA levels in this subregion.

In conclusion, these data reveal that local application of SAL affects the DA levels in the NAc subterritories in a region-specific manner. These findings may prove useful in probing CNS sites and mechanisms involved in alcohol consumption.


Request Reprint E-Mail: ana.polache@uv.es

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Alcohol consumption and body weight
Health Economics Early View 22 June 2009

The number of Americans who are overweight or obese has reached epidemic proportions. Elevated weight is associated with health problems and increased medical expenditures.

This paper analyzes Waves 1 and 2 of the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions to investigate the role of alcohol consumption in weight gain. Alcohol is not only an addictive substance but also a high-calorie beverage that can interfere with metabolic function and cognitive processes. Because men and women differ in the type and amount of alcohol they consume, in the biological effects they experience as a result of alcohol consumption, and in the consequences they face as a result of obesity, we expect our results to differ by gender.

We use first-difference models of body mass index (BMI) and alcohol consumption (frequency and intensity) to control for time-invariant unobservable factors that may influence changes in both alcohol use and weight status.

Increasing frequency and intensity of alcohol use is associated with statistically significant yet quantitatively small weight gain for men but not for women. Moreover, the first-difference results are much smaller in magnitude and sometimes different in sign compared with the benchmark pooled cross-sectional estimates.


Request Reprint E-Mail: mfrench@miami.edu

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Alcohol use and the labor market in Uruguay
Health Economics Early View 23 June 2009


This paper is one of only a few studies to examine potential labor market consequences of heavy or abusive drinking in Latin America and the first to focus on Uruguay. We analyzed data from a Uruguayan household survey conducted in 2006 using propensity score matching methods and controlling for a number of socio-demographic, family, regional, behavioral health, and labor market characteristics.
As expected, we found a positive association between heavy drinking and absenteeism, particularly for female employees. Counter to the findings for developed countries, our results revealed a positive relationship between heavy drinking and labor force participation or employment. This result was mostly driven by men and weakened when considering more severe measures of abusive drinking.

Possible explanations for these findings are that employment leads to greater alcohol use through an income effect, that the Uruguayan labor market rewards heavy drinking, or that labor market characteristics typical of less developed countries, such as elevated safety risks or job instability, lead to problem drinking. Future research with panel data should explore these possible mechanisms.


Request Reprint E-Mail: mfrench@miami.edu

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Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Arq. Neuro-Psiquiatr. [online]. 2009, vol.67, n.2a, pp. 254-261

This study found evidence that the left striatum and left cerebellum are affected by intrauterine exposure to alcohol. Additional studies with larger samples are necessary to expand our knowledge of the effects of fetal exposure to alcohol.



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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Typologies of Alcohol Use in White and African American Adolescent Girls
Substance Use & Misuse Published online 17 June 2009


This study examined typologies of alcohol use among 2,948 White and African American adolescent girls using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Self-report data were collected on frequency and quantity of alcohol use, negative consequences, and high-risk drinking behaviors, as well as co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems.

Latent class analysis revealed a four-group typology for White girls and a three-group typology for African American girls. Problematic drinkers reported having more internalizing and externalizing problems in both racial groups.

The study's limitations and implications are discussed.




Request Reprint -Mail: sd2368@columbia.edu

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Genetics of alcohol dependence
Human Genetics Online First 17 June 2009


Alcohol dependence (AD), a genetically influenced phenotype, is extremely costly to individuals and to society in the United States and throughout the world, contributing to morbidity and mortality and a host of economic, interpersonal, and societal problems.

Although until recently the only genes established to affect risk for AD were those encoding several alcohol metabolizing enzymes, there are now several other genes that can be regarded as confirmed risk loci, discovered through linkage and candidate gene association studies.

While the mechanism of action of the effects of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes on AD risk is thought to be well understood, we are still in the early stages of understanding the physiology of other risk loci. Further, it is clear that only a small number of the many genes that influence risk for AD have been identified.

Newer methodologies (e.g., genomewide association, study of copy number variation, and deep sequencing of candidate loci to identify rare risk variants) that have improved our understanding of other complex traits hold the promise of identifying a greater set of AD susceptibility loci.




Request Reprint E-Mail: joel.gelernter@yale.edu

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Mortality and predictors of death in a cohort of patients presenting to an eating disorders service
International Journal of Eating Disorders Published Online: 19 Jun 2009

Anorexia nervosa had a ten-fold increased risk of early death, but there was also evidence of increased risk in other groups of patients, including eating disorder not otherwise specified. A number of clinical factors predicted increased mortality risk, especially very low body mass index and the presence of alcohol misuse.

The study confirms previous evidence of a markedly increased mortality risk for anorexia nervosa, but also suggests that the risk is not confined to this eating disorder and that greater attention needs to be focused on wider psychiatric comorbidity.




Request Reprint E-Mail: eric.button@leicspart.nhs.uk_

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Event-Related Oscillations (EROs) as risk markers in genetic mouse models of high alcohol preference
Neuroscience Article in Press 21 June 2009


Mouse models have been developed to simulate several relevant human traits associated with alcohol use and dependence. However, the neurophysiological substrates regulating these traits remain to be completely elucidated. We have previously demonstrated that differences in the event-related potential (ERP) responses can be found that distinguish high-alcohol preferring from low alcohol preferring mice that resemble difference seen in human studies of individuals with high and low risk for alcohol dependence.

Recently, evidence of genes that affect event-related oscillations (EROs) and the risk for alcohol dependence has emerged, however, to date EROs have not been evaluated in genetic mouse models of high and low alcohol preference. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to characterize EROs in mouse models of high (B6 and HAP-1 mice) and low (D2 and LAP-1 mice) alcohol preference.

A time-frequency representation method was used to determine delta, theta and alpha/beta ERO energy and the degree of phase variation in these mouse models. The present results suggest that the decrease in P3 amplitudes previously shown in B6 mice, compared to D2 mice, is related to reductions in evoked delta ERO energy and delta and theta phase locking. In contrast, the increase in P1 amplitudes reported in HAP-1 mice, compared to LAP mice, are associated with increases in evoked theta ERO energy.

These studies suggest that differences in delta and theta ERO measures in mice mirror changes observed between groups at high- and low-risk for alcoholism where changes in EROs were found to be more significant than group differences in P3 amplitudes, further suggesting that ERO measures are more stable endophenotypes in the study of alcohol dependence.

Further studies are needed to determine the relationship between expression of these neurophysiological endophenotypes and the genetic profile of these mouse models.




Request Reprint E-Mail: cindye@scripps.edu

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A proteomic workflow for discovery of serum carrier protein-bound biomarker candidates of alcohol abuse using LC-MS/MS
ELECTROPHORESIS Published Online: 19 Jun 2009

The diagnosis and care of patients with alcohol abuse and dependence is hampered by a lack of sensitive and specific screening and monitoring tests. Proteomics is a good approach to search for biomarkers of alcohol abuse. Serum carrier protein-bound proteins have attracted significant interest because they remain a relatively un-mined region of the proteome.

In the present study, a proteomic workflow including LC-MS/MS with enrichment of serum carrier protein-bound biomarkers technique was applied to profile the changes in quality and quantity of serum carrier protein-bound proteins for the discovery of novel biomarker candidates of alcohol abuse.

In total, 311 proteins identified with high confidence were discovered to be bound to serum carrier proteins. Complement isoforms, Ig fragments, and apolipoprotein family proteins are the main serum carrier-bound proteins. Protein quantification analysis with and without concern as to gender revealed that gender is a critical consideration for biomarker development in alcohol abuse.

Identified proteins not previously associated with alcohol abuse include gelsolin, selenoprotein P, serotransferrin, tetranectin, hemopexin, histidine-rich glycoprotein, plasma kallikrein, and vitronectin. Altered abundance of these proteins suggests that they may be potential novel biomarkers for alcohol abuse.




Request Reprint E-Mail: fwitzman@iupui.edu

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Alcohol Screening Scores Predict Risk of Subsequent Fractures
Substance Use & Misuse Published online 17 June 2009


These results can be used to provide feedback to patients linking their alcohol screening scores to medical outcomes—a critical component of evidence-based brief counseling for alcohol misuse. The study's limitations are noted.





Request Reprint E-Mail: alexsox@sbcglobal.net

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The ISAJE/WHO Young Scholars Award

Applications are invited for the 2009 ISAJE/ WHO Young Scholars Award. This award aims to provide recognition for the contributions to addiction science of young scholars from low and middle income countries and to promote their involvement in the field. The award is given for the best paper published by a young scholar from a low or middle income country on any topic related to addiction. The winner will receive a certificate and financial support to attend an international scientific or clinical meeting in the addiction or substance abuse field, to be chosen by the winner in consultation with the Award Committee.



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Alcohol and Suicide Among Racial/Ethnic Populations --- 17 States, 2005--2006
MMWR June 19, 2009 / 58(23);637-641


During 2001--2005, an estimated annual 79,646 alcohol-attributable deaths (AAD) and 2.3 million years of potential life lost (YPLL) were attributed to the harmful effects of excessive alcohol use (1). An estimated 5,800 AAD and 189,667 YPLL were associated annually with suicide (1).

The burden of suicide varies widely among racial and ethnic populations in the United States, and limited data are available to describe the role of alcohol in suicides in these populations. To examine the relationship between alcohol and suicide among racial/ethnic populations, CDC analyzed data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) for the 2-year period 2005--2006 (the most recent data available).

This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that the overall prevalence of alcohol intoxication (i.e., blood alcohol concentration [BAC] at or above the legal limit of 0.08 g/dL) was nearly 24% among suicide decedents tested for alcohol, with the highest percentage occurring among American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) (37%), followed by Hispanics (29%) and persons aged 20--49 years (28%).

These results indicate that many populations can benefit from comprehensive and culturally appropriate suicide-prevention strategies that include efforts to reduce alcohol consumption, especially programs that focus on persons aged <50>


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Monday, June 22, 2009

SAMHSA Releases Latest TEDS Report on Discharges from Substance Abuse Treatment Services Provide Nationwide Data Substance Abuse Treatment Experiences

This report presents summary results from the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) for 2007. The report provides infor mation on the demographic and substance abuse characteristics of the 1.8 million annual admissions to treatment for abuse of alcohol and drugs in facilities that report to individual State administrative data systems

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Fathers’ Alcohol Use May Significantly Affect Their Adolescent Childrens’ Use of Alcohol and Drugs According to New Nationwide Study

In 2006-2007, almost one in twelve (7.9 percent) fathers living with adolescents aged 12 to 17 had an alcohol use disorder, and 68.1 percent used alcohol in the past year but did not have an alcohol use disorder. The rate of past year alcohol use among adolescents was lower for those who lived with a father who did not use alcohol in the past year than for those who lived with a father who used alcohol but did not have an alcohol use disorder and for those who lived with a father with an alcohol use disorder (21.1 vs. 33.2 and 38.8 percent, respectively).


The percentage of adolescents using illicit drugs in the past year increased with the level of paternal alcohol use, with illicit drug use reported by 14.0 percent of adolescents who lived with a father who did not use alcohol in the past year, 18.4 percent of those who lived with a father who used alcohol but did not have an alcohol use disorder, and 24.2 percent of those who lived with a father with an alcohol use disorder.


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Commentary - High risk behaviours & alcohol dependence
Indian J Med Res 129, April 2009, pp 354-356

Notwithstanding the methodological problems which have probably arisen due to logistical constraints, this study raises some important issues. The first deals with the consequences of alcohol use and the second, the role that personality factors of alcohol abusers and the bearing these factors have on issues such as the antecedents of alcohol dependence and the determinants of the varying outcomes in patients with alcohol dependence.
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High risk behaviours following alcohol use in alcohol dependent men
Indian J Med Res 129, April 2009, pp 376-381


Our findings indicated that there was a high prevalence of high risk behaviour following an episode of heavy drinking in male patients with alcohol dependence syndrome. Both, severity of drinking and personality factors were associated with the occurrence of high risk behaviour as a consequence of heavy drinking.


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Reducing alcohol-related harm in the workplace: a feasibility study of screening and brief interventions for hazardous drinkers.
Alcohol Insight number 63

The main results from the trial suggest that brief interventions in the workplace have the potential to reduce alcohol related harm and also save public sector resources. The employees in the intervention group reported greater reductions than those in the control group in terms of the mean alcohol use variables, and fewer days use of hospital services and primary care than at baseline compared with those in the control group, whose use of such services rose at follow-up.



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The emergence of a specialist role in rural alcohol and drug service delivery: Lessons from a review in rural Victoria, Australia
Drugs: education, prevention and policy published online 18 June 2009


Many aspects of the rural AOD service provider's role enhance service delivery by extending reach and capacity. This occurs through AOD models, such as outreach, as well as strategies for working with other systems that include networking and secondary consultation. While there is task diffusion beyond traditional understandings of AOD treatment, the service delivery role may be understood as specialist in its own right. Recognition of this role as specialist may support staff recruitment and retention, while building potential for career pathways.




Request Reprint E-Mail: lynda.berends@turningpoint.org.au

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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Is it time to ban alcohol advertising?
Clinical Medicine, Journal of the Royal College of Physicians, Volume 9, Number 2, April 2009 , pp. 121-124


All European countries, with the exception of the UK, have a ban on one or more types of advertising. Since self-regulation is reported as failing to prevent marketing which has an impact on younger people, and since advertising commonly crosses country borders, there is an argument to approximate advertising rules across Europe banning alcohol advertising targeted at young people, a highly cost-effective measure to reduce harmful alcohol use, and one supported by European citizens and case law.


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